Predicted to enable nucleic acid binding activity; nucleoside-triphosphatase activity; and ribosomal small subunit binding activity. Predicted to be involved in formation of translation preinitiation complex and ribosome assembly. Predicted to act upstream of or within translational initiation. Located in mitochondrion. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; brain; connective tissue; genitourinary system; and hemolymphoid system gland. Orthologous to human DHX29 (DExH-box helicase 29). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]